Thibodaux dentist discusses when gentle dental extractions may be appropriate

Tooth loss is often avoidable. Preventive dentistry, such as periodic professional cleanings, protects natural teeth from the primary causes of tooth loss: advanced periodontal or gum disease and severe tooth decay. Likewise, preventative services such as custom mouthguards protect teeth from being knocked-out or otherwise irrevocably damaged during physical activity, including contact sports. Additionally, the “best” teeth in terms of efficient function and attractive appearance are the ones designed as nature intended.

So, dental extractions at Acadia Family Dentistry in Thibodaux are generally viewed as “last resort” procedures. Dr. Jared Palmer may determine that extracting the tooth is unavoidable, should deep decay or infected tissue be present. Oral infections, such as abscesses, can be quite dangerous; they have been known to spread to other parts of the body without appropriate and prompt treatment.

If you’re nervous about the possibility of tooth loss, Dr. Palmer encourages you to rethink your perception of the procedure. Should we not be able to “save” the natural tooth, extractions:

• Finally provide relief for those patients who may have been holding on to painful or broken teeth for some time.
• Allow you to “start over” with a clean slate and with today’s advanced forms of tooth replacement (such as implant-retained bridges and dentures).
• Are well-tolerated with precision administration of effective, numbing anesthetics and calming medications, such as nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) or oral conscious sedation (with prescription pills).
• Involve gentle techniques, such as using a light touch to slightly shift the tooth and then lift it from its socket.
• Produce minimal post-treatment bleeding and other risks due to advanced tools and techniques.
• Prevent serious complications; underlying infections are not allowed to progress and become dangerous systemic infections. With prompt replacement, patients also avoid destructive bone loss that arises due to a lack of teeth.
• Involves the use of sophisticated diagnostics to monitor the health of developing wisdom teeth and recommend extractions early if they are not developing properly.

In the case of wisdom teeth, routine monitoring of these back molars helps us identify problems and suggest interventions early before pain and other symptoms disrupt your life.

Our team is also very transparent in what to expect before, during, and after treatment. While extractions are generally quite straightforward, it is still important to follow any instructions provided to you by our staff. For instance, a complication of wisdom teeth removal, dry socket, is avoided by refraining from the use of straws or other behaviors that can displace the blood clot that forms after the tooth is removed.